Welcome to another rousing of edition of Venezuela redux… Headlined on Drudge this morning, ABC News finally came out of the media closet and bowed before Obama. Since it is a flash news update, here is what it said in its entirety:
ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA; NEWS TO BE ANCHORED FROM INSIDE WHITE HOUSE
Tue Jun 16 2009 08:45:10 ET
On the night of June 24, the media and government become one, when ABC turns its programming over to President Obama and White House officials to push government run health care — a move that has ignited an ethical firestorm!
Highlights on the agenda:
ABCNEWS anchor Charlie Gibson will deliver WORLD NEWS from the Blue Room of the White House.
The network plans a primetime special — ‘Prescription for America’ — originating from the East Room, exclude opposing voices on the debate.
MORE
Late Monday night, Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay fired off a complaint to the head of ABCNEWS:
Dear Mr. Westin:
As the national debate on health care reform intensifies, I am deeply concerned and disappointed with ABC’s astonishing decision to exclude opposing voices on this critical issue on June 24, 2009. Next Wednesday, ABC News will air a primetime health care reform “town hall” at the White House with President Barack Obama. In addition, according to an ABC News report, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, WORLD NEWS, NIGHTLINE and ABC’s web news “will all feature special programming on the president’s health care agenda.” This does not include the promotion, over the next 9 days, the president’s health care agenda will receive on ABC News programming.
Today, the Republican National Committee requested an opportunity to add our Party’s views to those of the President’s to ensure that all sides of the health care reform debate are presented. Our request was rejected. I believe that the President should have the ability to speak directly to the America people. However, I find it outrageous that ABC would prohibit our Party’s opposing thoughts and ideas from this national debate, which affects millions of ABC viewers.
In the absence of opposition, I am concerned this event will become a glorified infomercial to promote the Democrat agenda. If that is the case, this primetime infomercial should be paid for out of the DNC coffers. President Obama does not hold a monopoly on health care reform ideas or on free airtime. The President has stated time and time again that he wants a bipartisan debate. Therefore, the Republican Party should be included in this primetime event, or the DNC should pay for your airtime.
Respectfully,
Ken McKay
Republican National Committee
Chief of Staff
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ABCNEWS Senior Vice President Kerry Smith on Tuesday responded to the RNC complaint, saying it contained ‘false premises’:
“ABCNEWS prides itself on covering all sides of important issues and asking direct questions of all newsmakers — of all political persuasions — even when others have taken a more partisan approach and even in the face of criticism from extremes on both ends of the political spectrum. ABCNEWS is looking for the most thoughtful and diverse voices on this issue.
“ABCNEWS alone will select those who will be in the audience asking questions of the president. Like any programs we broadcast, ABC News will have complete editorial control. To suggest otherwise is quite unfair to both our journalists and our audience.”
Developing…
I will say it again, uncontrolled Presidential power is inherently totalitarian in nature. Obama means to shove healthcare down America’s throat since stoopid Americans obviously don’t know what is best for them. He was soundly booed at the AMA yesterday and rightly so.
In all my life, I have never seen a President grab sooo much power, so quickly and wield it like a sledgehammer at the American public. This move with ABC is a statist action and Hugo Chavez must be grinning ear to ear over the actions of his comrade in arms…
Each day we are served up a fresh hell in headlines concerning Obama:
Is this what Americans wanted when they voted for change? I don’t think so – more like lost hope and chains than anything else here. It’s beginning to feel like we have more than a little in common with the people of Iran these days. The question is, do we have the spine that they have?
Help us boycott any products advertised on ABC News. Read Bookworm Room’s post here… It’s a start and we have to fight everywhere we can on this…
[...] reason I cannot WAIT for our farmer’s market to open. No Obama on every freaking magazine. More, and from them I got the link to a story I’d known about but was looking [...]
Jon Fraud Carry said,in June 16th, 2009 at 10:33 am
This is the definition of Fascism. ABC has always been in the back pocket of the Democrats, and now this?! Obama speaking the words of some one else on a TelePrompTer, ABC gets their entire broadcast vetted.
[...] II: In case you’re wondering why a boycott would be useful here, I recommend this post about the danger of presidential power that, owing to a compliant media, is unconstrained. Also, [...]
The Doktor said,in June 16th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I hope Jake Tapper escapes and lands on his feet. Regarding the rest – what took them so long?
scribe35 said,in June 16th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
I was at first pleased that ABC and Dish Network resolved thier differences. I just wrote ABC and told them they wasted thier time resolving the dispute.
kestrel said,in June 16th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
This is what happens when 52% of stupids go to the polls and vote their feelings instead of intelligence. By the way, has the Dear Leader paid your mortgage or bought your gas and groceries yet???
rebelwarrior said,in June 16th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
I have sent this to everyone I know. We need to keep the heat on, this is scary.
cpat murphy said,in June 19th, 2009 at 5:08 am
The educated idiots wanted change, and they are getting it. Some of them do not believe that our contry, read USA, had to fight and spill blood to give these idiots the freedom them want to destroy. As one of the blogs above mentioned, Lenin and Stalin are both now grinning and cheering for these CHANGES.
Wake up America, I don’t think you will like the results of the DNC wants to change for you. Next thing you know, the gestaspo will be knocking on your door.
